Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-17
onie,ly bu, tixodly upon the weak -sucod

underwent a sudden and startling
change. The eyes grew fixed and va
cant, and all the muscles stiiiened theh
The pencil which be had taken mp 70
write the prisoners name for report
uron his slate slipped through his
fingers, and he grew rigid in his seat.
81 think, sir" said No. 222 softly,
"ihat need not have my hair cut to-
day
"You need not have your hair cut to-
day." replied the warder; but he spoke
hike a man in dream.
You arc somewhat sleepy, sir. Inc
afternoon is warm. You had better en-
Joy little sicsta," pursued the prison,
er. who oil the while had not removed
his ewes from tho wardcr's face.
% am somewhat sleepy. The after
noon is warm. had better enjoy
little sicsta, echoed the warder; and
still he spoke like one laid in dreams.
That's right" said No. 222. "1ou
shall 30 10 sleep like an angel in a mo-
mcnt Int first see whether you have
any tobacco and n newspaper IN your
pocket. " 800,
The wsrder's hand went automati-
cally to his pocket, and drew from it a
tobacco-pouch and the days journal.
He laid them on the desk before him,
then his head fell forward, and he
slept like a man entranced.
No. 222 walAed to the officers place
and took mp the tobacco-poueh and the
newspaper. The pouch had been newly
filled. An even distribution of its con-
tents resulted in a quid apiece for the
| couvicts, and each man received his
morsel and chewed it with a pale, as
tonished face.
No. ODD then took mp his position be
side the sleeping warder, and proceeded
to read aloud such items from the crlml-
nal tribunals as he judged most likely
to interest his audience.
There was a signal enormity about
these transactions which, when their as
tonishment and alarm had in some mea-
sure subsidized. the prisoners were not
slow TO appreciate. Few articles are IN
n higher degree contIaband within the
walls Of q prison than newspapers and
tobacco, and to chew the one while
listening to the police reports in the
other constituted height and eXcessof
illicit felicity such as seemed cheaply
bought at the price of prospective
vhippings. ,oo
At The end OF an hour or 50 No. 222
folded the newspaper, and having laid
il on the wardpr's desk beside the to-
bacco-pouch. returned TO his seat The
convicts resumed their work and silence
was restored.
4 few moments laterthe warder awoke
with the same suadenness with which
he bad fallen asleep; but the aspect OF
his face and the air with which he
olouccd over the room showed at once
lint he WAS utterly obiivious Of every
thing that had happened since the mo-
uent when he first addressed himself
to No. 222. Seeing his newspaper and
tnbocco.pouch on the desk before him,
and thinking il improbable that ne had
placed them there himself, be concluded
flat he had gone 10 sleep for few
minutes and that his pocket had been
p:cked. But he held Ills tongue, for
such things had Happened before, and
lie was much too intelligent to lay .
charge against has gang which he could
only substantiate by inculplting HIM
sCt.
If 10. 900 had previously been
n man of mark amongst his associates
lie basked now in the sunshine OF a
fame such as no prisoner bad ever en-
loved before. Tut they grew despe-
r.telv afraid OF him, concluding as
many of the warders had already done
that he had dealings with the father OF
night. Meanwhile No. 22l conducted
himself as he had always done, with
centleness, politcness, and good humor,
and continued as before to earn the
highest possible number OF good-con-
Gact marks per week.
The assistant warder whom he had
, subdued in the manner described made
10 report of the affair, because the re-
mem6rance of it had (by some occult
AGENCY known only to his subduer) been
uttollv cfidced in him. Aud, Odt to re-
| late. ibis same assistant warder became
: from that day kindly and almost aiiec
: t;cnatelv DISPOSED toward No. 2I2, ans
ufed his influence with higher Once
TO have him promoted in the jail.
His promotion brought HIM unde
p. tie immediate authority of prime
! nal" warder. with whom until now IN
= had had very little to do. This WAS
: small. sturdy man, with teeth like tusk
i aud an acrobatic agility of frame, VIII
would provoke n pYisonerinto knocking
: him down for the subsequent satlsiac
5 ton of procuring him a tiogglng.
= The warder 10 sooner had No. -
y under his control than he hated hIm
Il he no sooner hated him than he resolve
} TO incommode him; he no sooner IT
.. solved to incommode him than he pre-
y cCeded TO put the resolve into effect
, He perceived that No. ODD was a ma
y Of mild behavior and one who might i
% expectcd 70 accommodate himself to
: course OF corrective treatment.
He set him dirty little tasks OF
/ supernuous character, and accused hi
Of breaches Of the rules which he coul
RS not possibly have committed. Whe
ar ON duty at nigltin he corridor in whic
to No. 90 had his cell, hc would hiss soft
lie at him through the slit in the do,
> which served as spy-hole. and won
N wake HIM at midnight to say that |
p had his eye upon him.
es ~ thank you, sir, " was the only r
r, icinder he could ever obtain from Il
"a occupant. g.
ne One night he unlocked the door Wi
at snap. let himself into the cell, al
sid; DIV. caught you, my plppi
lr have -" a.,
ld "At what, STRIP inquired No a22:
he you're achieving terbacker, -
~ replied the warder.
us Il am a stranger to the use OF
to bacco in every form, sir, said t
sc prisoner
OF "Get out Of bed. I'm going
search you" returned the warder
" The mild-mannered prisoner obeye
n and the spiteful warder made pl
to tence of searching him.
OF In stopping to bel the lower part
ed his body the warder's cap rolled G
al No. 222 quietly bent over
iai mans head, concentrated his gaze the
ne and breathcd hard upon it. A &C
'er SILVER ran down the warder's back, Il
a the prisoner understood that this ms
~ like the rest, was sensitive to his int
nv ence. -,